Am I An Artist?

[GraphicArtist4]

Hey everyone, i'm new. I love the work of Si Scott and i love his swirly style. So one day i tried to draw swirls like his. And i LOVE doing it. I'm pretty darn good at it too. But is this copying? Like i totally took his style but i LOVE doing it and i can't stop drawing like him. If anyone asks where i get my inspiration i feel sad and bad that i took his style so i just say i don't know. So, am i still an artist? i mean i draw ALOT of other things but mostly the swirly stuff. I feel bad but its just so fun. Thanks and please respond

[Red Kittie Kat]

There is nothing wrong with getting inspiration from another artist ... you know if you are copying it ... or just putting your spin on it

Everyone gets inspired somewhere ... the key is not to make exact copies. You can take that inspiration and run with it.

[holycow77]

If you keep drawing like that, you may find that your own style creeps in and it becomes your own.

[budafist]

Is it possible for you to create anything new? Humans learn by imitation. But if you can't create anything that is your own, they you do tread a fine line between copycat and inspiration.

[Grfk Dzgn]

You have to give credit where credit is due. It's good for your soul.

Honesty is a big part being able to see clearly, and nobody is 'the' original one. Si included. Everybody is influenced by something or someone. The trick is to interpret what it is you want to do in your way. Begin to push what it is you're doing in your own way - create your own vocabulary. You dig?

Early next year I have a date with our National Gallery up here in Canada. I get a shot to lay out my type sculpture to a jury of really well seasoned vets. There's no room for bullshit.
The sculpture itself is fresh - truly fresh presentation of type, but for my vision I stand on shoulders of giants, guys like Robert Indiana, Jasper Johns, et al. And I'm damn thankful they've laid down what they have.

If you want to be an artist - pay the price. The price isn't measured in success - it's measured in honesty. And believe me, honesty has a undeniable umph!

Am I getting paid for this??

[mdohrn]

Well, as I'm sure you can see from the answers, there is minimal agreement on this sort of topic.

I feel that it's paramount to remember that art is supposed to be your original work. I don't think there's anything even wrong with wholesale ripping off of an artists style, as long as it is not a wholesale ripping off of a specific work. Is it not an impressive task to imitate somebody so closely? With that being said, I also feel that each artist's style is continuously evolving, so that while you're ripping off this guy now, you're already growing through that so that in a year or whatever, you won't be doing the same thing. THAT is the really important justification, for me. It's not like you're moving into the guy's house, stealing his wife, kids and dog, and booting him to the curb so you can replace him.

Lots of very good points here, but I think it is educationally important to understand why you are where you are, and where to go from there. It seems dangerously reactionary to change your own style just because someone inspired you and you haven't yet figured out how to own that inspiration for yourself.

[GraphicArtist4]

Thank you guys, really. And no i do not copy his stuff. Thnx again

[greedo]

the question is not if you are an artist or not, the question is why do you think it matters?

[Broacher]

In 'Whatever you think, think the opposite' (an absolutely terrific little book by the late, great, Paul Arden) he tells the story of Ron Mueck who initially described himself as a modeller. He specializes in hyper-realistic human form. His work was interesting but his career really took off when on the advice of a friend he started calling himself an artist. That was it. Self-proclaimed 'legitimacy'.

Mind you, this guy has the goods to back it up.

http://paintalicious.org/2007/09/14/...list-sculptor/

[pirate]

I've seen his work, it's creeepy real.

very nice.